Ice storage bin with improved door and improved door incorporating hooks

ABSTRACT

An ice storage bin assembly including an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening which provides access to the cavity for retrieval of ice stored therein. The ice storage bin assembly further includes a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing down from a closed position to an open position. When the door is in the closed position, the door closes the opening and when the door is in the open position, the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessible. Optionally, one or more hooks may be disposed on the back side of the door, such that the one or more hooks are adapted to temporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to ice making machines and, moreparticularly, to an improved door configuration for use on an icestorage bin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice making machines, or ice makers, typically comprise a refrigerationand ice making system that employs a source of refrigerant flowingserially through a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve,and an evaporator assembly. Thermally coupled to the evaporator assemblyis a freeze plate comprising a lattice-type cube mold. Additionally,typical ice makers employ gravity water flow and ice harvest systemsthat are well known and in extensive use. Ice makers having such arefrigeration and ice making system are often disposed on top of icestorage bins, where ice that has been harvested is stored until it isneeded. Such ice makers have received wide acceptance and areparticularly desirable for commercial installations such as restaurants,bars, motels and various beverage retailers having a high and continuousdemand for fresh ice.

In these ice makers, water is supplied at the top of a freeze platewhich directs the water in a tortuous path toward a water pump. Aportion of the supplied water collects on the freeze plate, freezes intoice and is identified as sufficiently frozen by suitable means whereuponthe freeze plate is defrosted such that the ice is slightly melted anddischarged therefrom into an ice storage bin. Typically, these icemachines can be classified according to the type of ice they make. Onesuch type is a grid style ice maker which makes generally square icecubes that form within individual grids of the freeze plate which thenform into a continuous sheet of ice cubes as the thickness of the iceincreases beyond that of the freeze plate. After harvesting, the sheetof ice cubes will break into individual cubes as they fall into the icestorage bin. Another type of ice maker is an individual ice cube makerwhich makes generally square ice cubes that form within individual gridsof the freeze plate which do not form into a continuous sheet of icecubes. Therefore, upon harvest individual ice cubes fall from the freezeplate and into the ice storage bin. Various embodiments of the presentinvention can be adapted to either type of ice maker, and to others notidentified, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, typical prior art ice makers and icestorage bins are described. An upwardly swinging door 10 is typicallylocated near the top of the ice storage bin 12 which can be opened byswinging the door upward to provide access to the ice stored withinstorage bin 12. The upwardly swinging door 10 is often hinged along atop edge 14 of the door 10. Often, the upwardly swinging door 10 isopened past a vertical orientation and can rest in the open positionagainst the cabinet 16 containing the ice maker. This configuration haslong been the standard configuration for providing access to an icestorage bin 12.

This prior art configuration is lacking because the door can beaccidentally set in motion such that it will land on and strike a userwho is retrieving the ice from the ice storage bin 12. The consequencesof being struck with a door can range from annoying and mildly painfulto causing an injury requiring medical attention.

In an attempt to avoid the situation of doors falling on usersretrieving ice from an ice storage bin 12, manufacturers have increasedthe complexity and cost of the ice storage bin 12. For example, certainmanufacturers use friction-type hinges to hold the door 10 in the openposition. Although the addition of such friction-type hinges can reducethe occurrence of falling doors, this addition is not without itsissues. First, friction-type hinges will loosen up over time and will nolonger be able to hold the door 10 in the open position; thus the hingeswill cease to serve their purpose. Second, friction-type hinges areconsiderably more expensive than standard hinges. Third, friction-typehinges are often constructed using materials such as iron or steel whichare susceptible to rusting in the water-rich environment of an ice makerand ice storage bin. The rust that develops on such hinges willinevitably fall or drip from the hinge, landing in the ice storage bin12 and contaminating the ice stored therein.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a cost effective and simplesolution for reducing or eliminating the possibility of a person beingstruck by a door for an ice storage bin while the person is retrievingice from the ice storage bin. Likewise, there is a need in the art foran ice storage bin door that cannot fall on a user and which has hingesthat cannot wear out over time. Finally, there is a need in the art foran ice storage bin door that cannot fall on a user and which has hingesthat cannot corrode due to the wet environment.

Ice storage bins are almost always used to fill ice buckets. The bucketsare then used to transport the manufactured ice to the point-of-use ofthe ice, such as an ice dispenser. Prior art ice storage bins lack anymeans for supporting a bucket near the openings of the ice storage bins.Because of this, a standard bucket must be set on the floor when it isbeing filled. This leads to a less than ideal ergonomic situation as theuser must bend over multiple times as he or she lifts the ice out of thebin and then lowers it to the level of the bucket.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a bucket holding device whichholds the ice bucket closer to the opening of the ice storage bin toimprove the ergonomics of filling said ice buckets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, therefore, one embodiment of the present invention is directedto an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having acavity for the storage of ice and an opening which provides access tothe cavity. The ice storage bin assembly further includes a doorrotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges whichpermit the door to swing down from a closed position to an openposition. When the door is in the closed position, the door closes theopening and a front side of the door faces outwardly. When the door isin the open position, the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessibleand a back side of the door faces outwardly.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an icestorage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a cavity forthe storage of ice and an opening which provides access to the cavity.The ice storage bin assembly further includes a door rotatably connectedto the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door toswing down from a closed position to an open position. When the door isin the closed position, the door closes the opening and a front side ofthe door faces outwardly and when the door is in the open position, thecavity of the ice storage bin is accessible and a back side of the doorfaces outwardly. The door further has one or more hooks disposed on theback side of the door, such that the one or more hooks are adapted totemporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an icestorage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a front wall,a top edge of the front wall, and a cavity for the storage of ice and anopening which provides access to the cavity. The ice storage binassembly further includes a door rotatably connected to the ice storagebin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing up from aclosed position to an open position. Additionally, one or more tabs aredisposed along the top edge of the front wall of the ice storage binwherein the one or more tabs are adapted to temporarily retain a bucketwhen the door is in the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description,appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein the drawingsillustrate features in accordance with exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a right perspective view of an ice maker and ice storage binhaving a door with the door of the ice storage bin shown in the closedposition according to the prior art;

FIG. 1B is a right perspective view of an ice maker and ice storage binhaving a door with the door of the ice storage bin shown in the openposition according to the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having adownwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the icestorage bin shown in the closed position according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2B is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having adownwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the icestorage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3A is a right perspective view of the front side of a downwardlyswinging door according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a right perspective view of the back side of a downwardlyswinging door according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storagebin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging doorof the ice storage bin shown in the closed position according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storagebin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging doorof the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin without an icemaker having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swingingdoor of the ice storage bin shown in the closed position according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storage binhaving a downwardly swinging door having one or more hooks with thedownwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the openposition according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having adownwardly swinging door having one or more hooks with the downwardlyswinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open positionaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a right side view of an ice storage bin having a downwardlyswinging door having one or more hooks with the downwardly swinging doorof the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a right perspective view of one hook according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a top view of one hook according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a right perspective detail view of the back side of adownwardly swinging door having one or more hooks according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having adownwardly swinging door having one or more hooks with the downwardlyswinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open positionaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storagebin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging doorof the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13A is a right perspective view of a downwardly swinging dooraccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13B is a right perspective detail view of a downwardly swingingdoor according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a right perspective view of an upwardly swinging door with abucket hanging from one or more tabs disposed on the ice storage binaccording to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a right perspective detail view of an upwardly swinging doorwith a bucket hanging from one or more tabs disposed on the ice storagebin according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein ismeant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereofas well as additional items.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B one embodiment of an ice storage binassembly with an improved door is described. The ice storage binassembly 30 includes an ice storage bin 31 having a cavity 36 in whichice produced by the ice maker falls into and is stored until retrieved.The ice storage bin 31 further includes an opening 38 which providesaccess to the cavity 36 and the ice stored therein. The cavity 36 andthe opening 38 are formed by a left wall 33 a, a right wall 33 b, afront wall 34, a back wall 35 and a bottom wall (not shown). The wallsof ice storage bin 31 may be thermally insulated with various insulatingmaterials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open-or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene orpolyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored inice storage bin 31. Ice storage bin assembly 30 further includes adownwardly swinging door 40. Door 40 may be rotatably connected to icestorage bin 31 by one or more hinges 47 which permit door 40 to swingdown from a closed position (FIG. 2A) to an open position (FIG. 2B). Inone particular embodiment, door 40 has a front side 41, a back side 42,a bottom edge 43, a left edge 44 a, a right edge 44 b, and a top edge45. Therefore, when door 40 is in the closed position (FIG. 2A), door 40closes opening 38 and front side 41 of door 40 faces outwardly. Whendoor 40 is in the open position (FIG. 2B) door 40 is located belowopening 38, cavity 36 of ice storage bin 31 is accessible, and back side42 of door 40 faces outwardly.

In one embodiment, for example, a hinges 47 may be disposed along leftedge 44 a and right edge 44 b of door 40, respectively, and rotatablyconnect door 40 to ice storage bin 31 along left wall 33 a and rightwall 33 b of ice storage bin 31, respectively. As can be seen in greaterdetail in FIGS. 3A and 3B, hinge pin receiving holes 46 may be disposedparallel to bottom edge 43 near left edge 44 a and right edge 44 b ofdoor 40. Hinge pin receiving holes 46 may be adapted to receive a hingepin (not shown) of hinges 47 which permit door 40 to swing downward. Incertain other embodiments, for example one or more hinges 47 aredisposed along bottom edge 43 of door 40 and rotatably connect door 40to ice storage bin 31 at top edge 39 of front wall 34 of ice storage bin31. It is to be understood that any hinge type, construction and/orlocation may be used that permits door 40 to swing down from a closedposition to an open position without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. By arranging the hinge in this manner, the issues ofthe prior art doors that swing upward to open are eliminated becausewhen door 40 is in the open position, gravity maintains door 40 in theopen position such that it cannot accidentally swing downward and strikea person accessing and/or removing ice from ice storage bin 31.

Door 40 may, in certain embodiments, be constructed of multiple piecesor may, in other embodiments, be constructed of a single piece.Preferably, in one embodiment, door 40 may be formed as a single pieceusing a variety of processes including, but not limited to, ablow-molding process, an injection molding process, a rotomoldingprocess, a three-dimensional printing process, etc. Accordingly, in oneparticular embodiment, door 40 may be formed as a single piece using avariety of materials including, but not limited to, high impactpolystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), etc. Some embodiments of door 40 are hollow. While inother embodiments, similar to the walls of ice storage bin 31, door 40may also be thermally insulated with various insulating materialsincluding, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- orclosed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane,etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in ice storage bin31 and to provide additional structural rigidity.

Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B an ice maker having arefrigeration and ice making system may be disposed inside of a cabinet16 which may be mounted on top of ice storage bin assembly 30. Incertain embodiments, however as illustrated in FIG. 5, ice storage binassembly 30 may be separate from cabinet 16 and may have a top wall 32closing ice storage bin 31. Accordingly, it will be understood thatembodiments of the present invention do not require cabinet 16containing an ice maker to be disposed on top of ice storage binassembly 30 and the absence of cabinet 16 containing an ice maker doesnot depart from the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of an ice storage bin assemblywith an improved door having hooks for temporarily retaining a bucket isdescribed. In one particular embodiment, one or more hooks 60 aredisposed on back side 42 of door 40. The one or more hooks 60 aredisposed such that when door 40 is in the open position hook 60 isadapted to temporarily retain a bucket 70. Bucket 70 may be, but is notlimited to, a typical 5-gallon bucket, a specially designed ice bucket,etc. Accordingly, a user wishing to retrieve ice from ice storage bin 31can hook handle 71 of a bucket 70 and can then easily fill bucket 70with ice because top 76 of bucket is closer to top edge 39 of front wall34 of ice storage bin 31 than if bucket 70 was placed on the floor orground. By including one or more hooks 60 on back side 42 of door 40,the user does not have to place bucket 70 on the floor or ground whilefilling the bucket with ice. This may assist in keeping bucket 70 clean.Furthermore, hooking bucket 70 to door 40 raises bucket 70 above thefloor and therefore may reduce stress and strain on the user because theuser no longer has to reach down low to pick up and carry bucket 70 onceit is full of ice. Additionally, hooking bucket 70 to door 40 assists inkeeping door 40 in the open position. Additionally, in one embodiment,as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, hook 60 may be adapted to temporarily retainbucket 70 directly instead of by handle 71. A typical bucket 70 may havea reinforcing band 74 near the top 76 of bucket 70 where handle 71 isattached to bucket 70. A typical bucket 70 may also have a lip 78 at thetop 76 of bucket 70. In certain embodiments, hook 60 may be adapted toaccept band 74 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70,while in other embodiments hook 60 may be adapted to accept lip 78 ofbucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70. In certainembodiments, hook 60 may be adapted to accept handle 71, band 74, and/orlip 78 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10, an embodiment of hooks fortemporarily retaining a bucket is described. Hook 60 may comprise a baseportion 62, hook portions 64 and support portions 66. Hook portions 64have proximal portions 63 which are connected to base portion 62 anddistal portions 65. Hook portions 64 have an arcuate shape such thathook portions 64 are adapted to accept handle 71 of bucket 70. A gap 68adapted to receive ring of material 73 on grip 72 of handle 71 of bucket70 may partially or completely separate hook portions 64. Supportportions 66 provide structural support for hook portions 64 and mayassist in preventing the weight of a full bucket 70 from bending orbreaking hook portions 64 of hook 60. Additionally, as illustrated inFIG. 9B, distal portions 65 may be shaped with a radius R whichcorresponds to the radius of a typical bucket 70 so that hook 60 mayhold bucket 70 by band 74, while in other embodiments hooks 60 may holdbucket 70 by lip 78. It will be understood that the hooks may be anytype of hook design which is capable of accepting the handle of a bucketand/or a bucket directly in order to temporarily retain a bucket,without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly,in one embodiment, the hooks may be designed to accept the lip,sidewall, and/or base of a specially designed bucket. Therefore certainembodiments of hooks and buckets may be specially designed to permit thebucket to be releasably attached to the hooks without the use of ahandle being placed in the hooks. The hooks may be comprised of avariety of materials including, but not limited to, metal, metal alloy,plastic, wood, composite, etc.

The one or more hooks 60 may be attached to back side 42 of door 40 in avariety of ways, including, but not limited to, screws, rivets,adhesives, welds, brazing, etc. Additionally, in certain embodiments,hooks 60 may be releasably attached to back side 42 of door 40 in avariety of ways, including, but not limited to, screws, magnets, lockingpins and slots, etc. Accordingly, hooks 60 may be disposed in a varietyof locations on back side 42 of door to accommodate different sizebuckets. Preferably in another embodiment, one or more hooks 60 may beintegrally formed on back side 42 of door 40. In one particularembodiment, each hook 60 may first be formed as a single piece using avariety of processes including, but not limited to, an injection moldingprocess, a three-dimensional printing process, etc. Then after the hooks60 are formed, the desired number of hooks 60 may be placed in a moldwherein at least back side 42 of door 40, and preferably the entirety ofdoor 40, is to be formed. Accordingly, the desired number of hooks 60and the back side 42 of door and/or the entire door 40 are formed intosingle piece. This forming can be accomplished using a variety ofprocesses including, but not limited to, a blow-molding process, arotomolding process, etc. Accordingly, in one particular embodiment, atleast back side 42 of door 40, and preferably the entirety of door 40,and hooks 60 may be constructed using a variety of materials including,but not limited to, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, another embodiment of an ice storage binassembly with an improved door having hooks for temporarily retaining abucket is described. In one particular embodiment, one or more hooks 80may be integrally formed on back side 42 of door 40 such that at leastback side 42 of door 40, and preferably the entirety of door 40, and oneor more hooks 80 are formed at the same time as a single piece. Thisforming can be accomplished using a variety of processes including, butnot limited to, a blow-molding process, an injection molding process, arotomolding process, a three-dimensional printing process, etc.Accordingly, in one particular embodiment at least back side 42 of door40, and preferably the entirety of door 40, and hooks 80 are formed as asingle piece using a variety of materials including, but not limited to,high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc.

Similar to the above described embodiments, the one or more hooks 80 maybe disposed such that when door 40 is in the open position hook 80 iscapable of temporarily retaining a bucket 70. Bucket 70 may be, but isnot limited to, a typical 5-gallon bucket, a specially designed icebucket, etc. Accordingly, a user wishing to retrieve ice from icestorage bin 31 can hook handle 71 of a bucket 70 and can then easilyfill bucket 70 with ice. Additionally, in one embodiment, hook 80 may beadapted to temporarily retain bucket 70 directly instead of by handle71. A typical bucket 70 may have a reinforcing band 74 near the top 76of the bucket where handle 71 is attached to bucket 70. A typical bucket70 may also have a lip 78 at the top 76 of bucket 70. In certainembodiments, hook 80 may be adapted to accept band 74 of bucket 70 inorder to temporarily retain bucket 70, while in other embodiments hook80 may be adapted to accept lip 78 of bucket 70 in order to temporarilyretain bucket 70. In certain embodiments, hook 80 may be adapted toaccept handle 71, band 74, and/or lip 78 of bucket 70 in order totemporarily retain bucket 70.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 13A and 13B, one embodiment of a door havinghooks for temporarily retaining a bucket is described. Hook 80 maycomprise hook portions 84 and a support portion 88. Hook portions 84have an arcuate shape such that hook portions 84 are adapted to accepthandle 71 of bucket 70. A gap 88 adapted to receive ring of material 73on handle 71 of bucket 70 may partially or completely separate hookportions 84. Support portion 86 provides structural support for hookportions 84 and may assist in preventing the weight of a full bucket 70from bending or breaking hook portions 84 of hook 80.

In yet another embodiment, hooks 60, 80 may be visually distinguishablefrom back side 42 of door 40 which may assist in discriminating hooks60, 80 from back side 42 of door 40. This would be particularly helpfulin dimly lit locations such as bars and restaurants. Hooks 60, 80 may bevisually distinguishable from back side 42 of door 40 in a variety ofways, including, but not limited to, color, texture, etc. In oneembodiment, for example, back side 42 of door 40 may be dark in colorand hooks 60, 80 may be lighter in color. In other embodiments, hooks60, 80 may be colored, including, but not limited to, white, grey,yellow, fluorescent yellow, red, fluorescent red, green, fluorescentgreen, orange, fluorescent orange, etc. In other embodiments, forexample, hooks 60, 80 may be reflective such that light is reflectedtherefrom. In another embodiment, for example, hooks 60, 80 may emitlight via a variety of means, including, but not limited to,radioluminescence, phosphorescence, photoluminescence,chemiliuminescence, etc.

Additionally, in certain embodiments, one or more hooks 60, 80 may be onback side 42 of door 40. In one embodiment, for example, 1 hook 60, 80may be on back side 42 of door 40. In another embodiment, for example, 2hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet anotherembodiment, for example, 3 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 4 hooks 60, 80 may be onback side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 5 hooks60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, forexample, 6 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yetanother embodiment, for example, 7 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 8 hooks 60, 80 maybe on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 9hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet anotherembodiment, for example, 10 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door40. By including more than one hook 60, 80, a user may be able to fillmultiple buckets 70 with ice at a time and can therefore reduce thenumber of trips required from ice storage bin 31 to the destination ofthe ice.

It will be understood that prior art ice storage bins having upwardlyswinging doors, can be retrofitted with a downwardly swinging door 40using various parts described herein, without departing from the scopeof the present invention. Additionally, prior art ice storage bins thathave been retrofitted with a downwardly swinging door 40 may also beretrofitted with one or more hooks 60, 80 as described herein, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, priorart ice storage bins may be retrofitted with a downwardly swinging door40 that may have one or more integrally formed hooks 60, 80 as describedherein, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring again to FIGS. 2A, 5, 11, 12, and 13A, certain embodiments ofdoor 40 may further include one or more handles 48. In some embodiments,a handle 48 may be disposed on left side 44 a and/or on right side 44 bof door 40. In other embodiments, a handle 48 may be disposed on topedge 45 of door 40. Handle 48 may preferably be an indentation formedinto door 40. However, it is to be understood that any handle type,construction and/or location may be used that assists in opening andclosing door 40 without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 15, another embodiment of an improved icestorage bin assembly 90 having an upwardly swinging door 10. In oneparticular embodiment, tab 100 may be disposed along top edge 99 offront wall 94 of ice storage bin 91. Preferably, one or more tabs 100may be disposed near left wall 93 a and/or right wall 93 b of icestorage bin 91. Tab 100 may comprise a tab of material, wherein tab 100is adapted to temporarily retain a bucket 70. Bucket 70 may be, but isnot limited to, a typical 5-gallon bucket, a specially designed icebucket, etc. Accordingly, a user wishing to retrieve ice from icestorage bin 31 can hook handle 71 of a bucket 70 and can then easilyfill bucket 70 with ice because top 76 of bucket 70 is closer to topedge 99 of front wall 94 of ice storage bin 91. Tab 100 may be disposedon top edge 99 of front wall 94 of ice storage bin 91 such that tab 100does not interfere with the opening and closing of upwardly swingingdoor 10. It is to be understood that tab 100 may be any type of tabdesign which is capable of temporarily retaining the handle of a bucketwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. Tab 100 maybe comprised of a variety of materials including, but not limited to,metal, metal alloy, plastic, wood, composite, etc. One or more tabs 100may be attached to top edge 99 of front wall 94 in a variety of ways,including, but not limited to, screws, rivets, adhesives, welds,brazing, etc. Preferably in another embodiment, one or more tabs 100 maybe integrally formed on top edge 99 of front wall 94. In yet otherembodiments, one or more tabs 100 may be removably inserted into slotsor tracks (not shown) in top edge 99 of front wall 94. Accordingly, oneor more tabs 100 may be removed and placed in a variety of locationsalong top edge 99 of front wall 94 to assist a user in retrieving icefrom ice storage bin 91.

Thus, there has been shown and described novel methods and apparatusesof an ice storage bin with an improved door and an improved doorincorporating hooks, which overcome many of the problems of the priorart set forth above. It will be apparent, however, to those familiar inthe art, that many changes, variations, modifications, and other usesand applications for the subject devices and methods are possible. Allsuch changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applicationsthat do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemedto be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims whichfollow.

1. An ice storage bin assembly comprising: an ice storage bin having acavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity;and a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or morehinges which permit the door to swing down from a closed position to anopen position; wherein when the door is in the closed position, the doorcloses the opening and when the door is in the open position, the dooris located below the opening and the cavity of the ice storage bin isaccessible.
 2. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the doorfurther comprises one or more hooks disposed on the back side of thedoor, the one or more hooks adapted to temporarily retain a bucket whenthe door is in the open position.
 3. The ice storage bin assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more hooks are adapted to accept one or moreof a handle, a reinforcing band, and a lip of a bucket in order totemporarily retain the bucket when the door is in the open position. 4.The ice storage bin assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more hooksare integrally formed in the back side of the door.
 5. The ice storagebin assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more hooks are visuallydistinguishable from the back side of the door.
 6. The ice storage binassembly of claim 5, wherein the one or more hooks have a color that isdifferent than a color of the back side of the door.
 7. The ice storagebin assembly of claim 5, wherein the one or more hooks are reflective.8. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 5, wherein the one or morehooks further comprise a means for emitting light.
 9. The ice storagebin assembly of claim 1, wherein the door further comprises one or morehandles for assisting in opening and closing the door.
 10. An icestorage bin assembly comprising: an ice storage bin having a cavity forthe storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity; and a doorrotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges whichpermit the door to swing down from a closed position to an openposition; wherein when the door is in the closed position, the doorcloses the opening and when the door is in the open position, the dooris located below the opening and the cavity of the ice storage bin isaccessible; and wherein the door further comprises one or more hooksdisposed on the back side of the door, the one or more hooks adapted totemporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position. 11.The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more hooksare adapted to accept one or more of a handle, a reinforcing band, and alip of a bucket in order to temporarily retain the bucket when the dooris in the open position.
 12. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10,wherein the one or more hooks are integrally formed in the back side ofthe door.
 13. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the oneor more hooks are visually distinguishable from the back side of thedoor.
 14. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one ormore hooks have a color that is different than a color of the back sideof the door.
 15. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein theone or more hooks are reflective.
 16. The ice storage bin assembly ofclaim 10, wherein the one or more hooks further comprise a means foremitting light.
 17. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, whereinthe door further comprises one or more handles for assisting in openingand closing the door.
 18. An ice storage bin assembly comprising: an icestorage bin having a front wall, a top edge of the front wall, and acavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity; adoor rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hingeswhich permit the door to swing up from a closed position to an openposition; and one or more tabs disposed along the top edge of the frontwall of the ice storage bin wherein the one or more tabs are adapted totemporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.